WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 51

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

By P. Kompter.

March 2.

Dear Pasquin, — Bland Holt has continued to hold the boards at the Opera House during the week to good business. " The War of Wealth " pro-* ed a good piece, and Mr Holt's trial with it upon the New Zealanders will justfty him in giving it to the Australians. The stoiy deals with Sydney's financial history, and Artist Bruntc-n has painted some cloths which might move the National Gallery authorities to bid for their perpetual hanging in the mother colony's marble halls. There are several sensational scenes, including the saving of the heroine from the ocean, and the pair's hairbreadth escape on the strength of a Union Jack.

Mention of the TJ. J. reminds me that last night Mr Holt hit us with a brand new piece full of jingo, Transvaal, and Soldiers of Absentminded Beggars, under the title of " The Ab-sent-minded Beggar." There wasn't one, but a hundred of him, and patriotic cries and speeches weie as plenteous as the tattle of musketry. The plot is. unravelled in the Transvaal, Gleijcos and Ladysmith being locales, and Kruger was one of the characters. Arthur Shirley is the author, and he has given opportunities for scenic displays which have satisfied even Bland Holt. The scenes range from a flag and banner factory tewing machine? at work) to an attack upon a kopje, and Boers are as plentifully in evidence as boers at an evening party. There is also a review of troops in Hyde Park and the working of a telegraph instrument on the broad wide veldt. Added interest was lent to the scene last night by the presence of Wellington's section of the fourth contingent. The following is a comparison of the original London and the first colonial production of

" THE ABSENT-MINDED BEGGAR." (Produced for the first time on 25th November,

1899, at the Princess Theatre, London.)

London. Wellington. LillahM'Carthy Ka'hlf-rn Ivor Frances Roes Cicely Richards Patty Heather- Hairie Ireland ■ sett Mr S. Mills Nipper Nappar M>sHolfc Annie Esm nd Mrs Van Bi ren Miss GUI Kale O'Connor MrsDro'ey AdelaKerr Nellie MarL-r "Word" Biightie Smith Minnie Sirler Kitty May Ingersole P. O'Connor Mary Jane May LivingMaria stone Dnlly Dixon Lucy Coppin •F. B. Warner Gilbert Hay W. li. Baker Win. Clayton K»rl Van Albert Noimau Buren L. D'Arsay Aljiyßeilew Arthur Styan 0. Last Bi'lTrsh Clwiles Brown H. Fester ' John Ivor 3C. C. Cnrlesse E. S. Gofton Dan Napper M. *'. Kemp J. B. Gordon David Napper A. HarfVrd A. M'Kenzie Detective Chae. Wheel* r Hor'.on F. Roberts Sergeant A. Scailett O'Docherty Geo. Hill Gen. Craston May Maxwell A. E. Drink- J 'resident — Corlesse water Kru&er H. M'Clelland Jan Stoomof J. Montgomery W. S. Paikes Peter He ch" — Sca-letfc F. Brardon Hans Harold Oarr Cha«. Baldwin X' mji I<a Ing^i&ole Fred Enmey ' Lc-vi Winkel- Bland Holt

Christie Siinonsens left for the south on Tuesday to prepare the wwa r for the Holt Company, which finishes its Wellington seafcon. tonight. To-morrow evening we are to see the opening of the Brough season in the "Opera House. " Ihe Liars" is the opening piece.

The Henry Dramatic Company is to open its season here on Easter Monday.

Valdai es opened their tented music hall on the Reclaimed Land yesterday week, and have done boom business since. Thej had the contingent boj's round on Tuesday night.

Mr F. W. Haybittle, one of the leading elocutionists in the days gone by, and brother of " Walter Rivers, ' is going to Paris for a trip. He was given a shivoo on Wednesday night. At that affair the guest of the evening: expressed the opinion that the dramatic and music-loving public of Wellington had much to bo thankful for to those early woikers in this direction, who achieved wonders. In those days they staged " Richelieu," " The Lady of Lyons," " Henry IV," " Hamlet," and others of that class. '' Hamlet," the speaker was sorry to say, was an unfinished performance. In fact, had it not been for the friendly shelter of an adjacent timber yard, the performers would have been torn to pieces by the infuriated mob! Mr H. E. Nicholls also told how the amateurs cast " Othello," which would have been performed only there was some difficulty about the costumes and alto about the cast — they all wanted to be Othello! The same speaker referred to the increase in thi number of such societies thioughout the eoleny, and humouiously lemarked that though they were not exactly nurseries for humility, they did a good deal of good.

Mr F. W. G. M'Leod, of Oamaru, has been appointed conductor of the Mastertou Brass Band. Mr M'Leod has been a prominent member of the Oamaru Garrison Band for a number of years, having occupied the positioa

of leading cornet, ancl in the absence of the conductor, the Hqn. George Jones, M.L.C., has, on occasions, fulfilled his duties. Mr Harry Norman, stage manager for Mr Bland Holt, was on Tuesday evening requested, after rehearsing his auxilipries for the forthcoming production of " The Absent-minded Boggar," to remain behind, r)\d was by Mr Houchen presented, on behalf of the supernumeraries, with a handsome gold-mounted cigar and cigarette-holder and a box of cigars. Mr Houchen, in making the presentation, commented forcibly on the fact that Mr Norman was held in the utmost esteem and respect by all who had -come under the influence of his management. Mr Norman suitably responded, and cheers were given for the recipient and Mrs Norman.